Flea artistic director Jim Simpson (The Guys) directs the debut of the work, which began previews Nov. 3 and opened Nov. 29. The show (which underwent a name change during previews — it was initially titled Oh the Humanity and Other Good Intentions) was originally scheduled to play a limited engagement through Dec. 22. Six weeks of performances have now been added.
Christina Kirk (Well, [sic], Nobody's Lunch) will replace current star Marisa Tomei Jan. 15 through the end of the run.
Oh the Humanity and Other Exclamations comprises five short plays: Behold The Coach, In Sorrow, Uninsured; Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rain; Enter the Spokeswoman, Sideways; The Bully Composition; and Oh, the Humanity. The plays, according to press notes, are about "people like you, facing lives like yours. About life, in a word."
Joining Tomei in the cast are Brian Hutchison (The Front Page - Williamstown, The Invention of Love, Mr. Marmalade) and Flea vet Drew Hildebrand (Two September, Screen Play). Playwright Eno earned acclaim for his Pulitzer Prize finalist Thom Pain (based on nothing). Other plays include Tragedy: a tragedy, The Flu Season, Kid Blanco, King: a problem play and an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt.
The design team features Kyle Chepulis (set), Brian Aldous (lighting), Claudia Brown (costumes), Jill BC DuBoff (sound), and Dustin O'Neill (video/projection).
Tomei, known for her Oscar-winning turn in "My Cousin Vinny," most recently appeared on Broadway in Salome: The Reading. The Naked Angels Theater Company member has also frequented the stage in such productions as Tony Kushner's Slavs! (NYTW), Waiting For Lefty(CSC), What the Butler Saw (MTC), Demonology (Playwrights Horizons) and Broadway's Wait Until Dark. Her film work includes "In the Bedroom," "Chaplin," "Slums of Beverly Hills," "Unhook the Stars," "Only You," "The Perez Family" and the current "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead."
The production is "not suitable for children," according to a release.
Tickets to Oh the Humanity ... at The Flea Theater, 41 White Street (between Broadway and Church St.), are available by calling (212) 352-3101 or by visiting theflea.org.
